Reno’s Hispanic community: El Rosal Tortilla Factory in Sparks
Pastry chef Giermo Ibarra mixes pastry dough to make fresh pastries at the El Rosal Tortilla Factory in Sparks. El Rosal has been serving the area for the past 16 years and is the place where Hispanics go to buy cornmeal for tamales.
People know El Rosal Tor tilla Factory in Sparks for many things.
Its bright-colored piñatas. Its restaurant that serves tacos, stuffed peppers, tamales and Mexican drinks. Its bakery that offers a variety of pastries from Mexican sweet bread to blueberry turnovers.
But to Juan Ibarra, owner of El Rosal, his pride is in the fresh items made from the cornmeal that is produced daily in his shop.
“It makes us unique because there’s no one else who does it,” said Ibarra in English and Spanish.
Ibarra started his business 16 years ago after arriving from Mexico.
His cornmeal products include tortillas, taco shells and tamales. He uses them in El Rosal’s restaurant.
“I think it has much importance,” Ibarra said. “It continues our (Mexican) traditions.”
The store is well known in Northern Nevada’s Hispanic communities.
“It’s my favorite place,” said Elva Villa, 49, of Fernley, in Spanish, who bought cornmeal to make tamales. “This is the only place I can find the things I need for tamales.”
This article originally appeared in Reno Gazette-Journal.
